How Can I Recover Compensation for a Parking Lot Accident in Illinois?

 Posted on November 20, 2020 in Car Accidents

When we think of car accidents, we do not usually consider crashes that happen in parking lots. Although many parking lot accidents occur at low speeds, these collisions can still cause serious injuries or even death. If you or a loved suffered an injury after a parking lot accident, you may wonder if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. In many cases, a personal injury claim can help a parking lot accident victim recover compensation for vehicle repair costs, medical bills, missed work, and other damages.

Who Is At Fault for a Car Accident in a Parking Lot?
Parking lots can be hectic places. Individuals who are in a hurry may drive while distracted by their cell phones, disregard right-of-way rules, or drive across parking spaces instead of staying in the appropriate lanes. Drivers who are exiting parking spaces should always yield to cars driving through the feeder lanes and drivers exiting feeder lanes must yield to motorists in the thoroughfare lanes. Drivers should be vigilant for pedestrians at all times. When a motorist ignores right-of-way rules, drives too fast, or fails to check his or her surroundings before moving, he or she may strike a pedestrian or another vehicle. If a motorist’s inattention, recklessness, or negligence causes a parking lot accident, he or she may be liable for the damages incurred in the accident.

Establishing Negligence and Recovering Compensation
Parking lot accidents often turn into “he said she said” situations. Both drivers may argue that they were following traffic laws and right-of-way rules at the time of the accident. In situations like these, surveillance camera footage can be especially useful. Data from vehicles’ event data recorders, photographs of the accident scene, and witness testimonies may also be useful in establishing who was at fault. In many cases, there is more than one negligent party for a parking lot accident. If the parking lot had defects such as insufficient lighting or signage, the owner of the property may be responsible for damages as well.

It is also possible that both the injured person and another driver share fault for the accident. Fortunately, Illinois law allows injured parties to pursue compensation for injuries caused by negligence or wrongdoing even if they somehow contributed to their injuries. As long as the injured party is not more than 50 percent responsible for the accident that led to his or her injuries, he or she may still be able to collect compensation.

Contact a Decatur Personal Injury Lawyer
Although they are typically not as severe as vehicle collisions at high speeds on the highway, a crash in a parking lot can still result in significant damages. If you or a loved one was hurt in a parking lot accident, contact Kanoski Bresney to learn about your options for pursuing compensation. Depending on the circumstances, you may be facing costly medical and auto repair expenses. Call us today at 888-826-8682 to schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled Bloomington car accident attorneys.

Source:
https://courts.illinois.gov/CircuitCourt/CivilJuryInstructions/11.00.pdf